It is with unfathomable sadness that the Butts family of Birch Grove must announce the passing of one of its most iconic members, David Leroy Butts (77). David passed away Saturday May 30th at the Glace Bay General Hospital, in the company of his wife and children. Much appreciation is being extended to the management staff of the hospital, who allowed them to be by his side every hour of his last days. David lived his entire life in Birch Grove as a self-employed auto mechanic and owned an impressive collection of antique Fords that he rebuilt entirely himself. If you owned an antique car on Cape Breton Island in the last 40 years, chances are good, you know David Butts. His love for antique Fords was only second to his love for his family: His wife of 54 years, Wilma, his daughters Phyllis (Ron Low) and Tanya (Bob Martell), his son Ryan, all of whom he taught the most important of life skills: always be kind and pleasant to others, appreciate family and loved ones, and drive a stick shift. He became a grandfather 25 years ago and discovered a whole new love he couldn’t contain. His five grandchildren and one great grandson, (Dylan, Morgan, Cameron, Colby, Chase and James) will never forget the fun they had roasting marshmallows over a campfire, playing a game of PopOmatic Trouble, or going to the chip wagon in an old car with their Nanny and Grampy.
David was the oldest of 10 siblings, all of whom lived within a stone throw of their parents Phyllis and George, and uncle to 14 nieces and nephews. He is survived by brothers Ted (Florence), Bruce and George (Gerry Lee) and sisters Sandra, Linda, Trudy (Stanley) and Judy (Reg). He is predeceased by sisters Marjorie and Kathy, brothers in-law Sandy and Wilfred, sister in-law Betty and mother Phyllis and father George.
David was an original member of the Cape Breton Antique and Custom Car Club and spent all of his spare time rebuilding either one of his own collectables, or someone else’s during the winter months when he wasn’t able to be behind the wheel, where he loved to be most. His customers came from near and far and many would only allow his hands to mess around under their hoods.
He also loved the outdoors, either camping, ski-dooing or three wheeling, anything that involved being outside and preferably going fast. He was famous for bringing along a giant teapot wherever he travelled to. You never know when an impromptu roadside picnic might break out, requiring a cup of tea for everyone around. This was especially true of the Saturday ski-doo trips that lasted all winter as long as there was snow. Many members of the Butts family, aunts, uncles and cousins, spent the day breaking fresh powder trails and stopping for the best pot of soup cooked over an open campfire that you ever had. And what would a Butts family outing be if it didn’t include a little friendly competition to decide who had the fastest machine? No one was getting the best of David at this.
His most favorite pastime by far was combining all these passions of his, attending car shows during the summer months with his family and close friends. Not many antique cars were built to tow a camper trailer, but David Butts’ certainly were. He travelled with his family, and sometimes brought along extra kids, as far away as Ontario and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. These trips weren’t always without their mishaps. Overheated engines, broken driveshafts, malfunctioning gas gauges were among a few of the problems encountered. Luckily David was pretty ingenious when it came to finding a fix to the situation, or if nothing else, he’d invent a few new curse words to describe it. Regardless, every trip included visits to amusement parks, waterslides, shopping trips, and the occasional barn yard sale, that gave everyone a good laugh and unforgettable memories.
In more recent years, David and Wilma were able to enjoy a few winter trips to the US to attend NHL games. Although David wasn’t one you would call a sports fan, he was definitely a fan of travelling with good friends to new places, meeting new people, finding new places to eat and maybe, if he was lucky, finding a place with old automotive treasures. He was the kind of man you could bring anywhere, and all he’d need was a glass of orange pop to make him happy.
David will be wholeheartedly missed by his family. A cup of tea and dessert around the dining table will never be quite the same. Family gatherings at Christmas, birthdays and Fathers’ Day will be missing a special person at the head of the table. He will live on in his children and grandchildren who wear his thick curly hair, eat with his cast iron stomach and drive with his lead foot.
The family is extending special gratitude to Dr. Laith Shimon and Dr. B. O’Brien, who have been providing care to David for the past number of years, and not enough appreciation can be given to the health care team of 3rd floor East of the Glace Bay General Hospital. We know providing that quality of care is an everyday routine for them, but this was not a routine time for David’s family and the health care staff did everything they possibly could to provide comfort, especially in a time when visitation wasn’t possible at all for other families in this situation.
An event will be planned for a later date when a gathering of appropriate size can be held to celebrate David’s life. Online condolences are welcome to be left at www.pattenfuneral.com
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